Stamp dispenser



E. A. BECK STAMP DISPENSER May 19, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 21.1968 fir-5 1 INVENTOR. 5,4m. A., 656K May 19, 1970 E. A. BECK 3,512,678

' STAMP DSPENSER Filed March 21, 1968 l 2 sheets-Sheet 2 l iz INVENTOR.F1/@L A,1 /SE-cz United States Patent O 3,512,678 STAMP DISPENSER EarlA. Beck, R0. Box 3024, Inglewood, Calif. 90304 Filed Mar. 21, 1968, Ser.No. 714,988 Int. Cl. B65h 17/40 U.S. Cl. 226-110 12 Claims ABSTRACT FTHE DISCLOSURE The present invention has primary utility forcontinuously dispensing a ribbon of material, such as trading stamps andthe like. In one form, apparatus embodying certain principles of thepresent invention may include a housing in which is positioned aplurality of stamp storage means from which stamps are dispensedautomatically to the exterior of the housing. Drive Iwheels may beprovided in engagement with the ribbon of stamps from each of the stampstorage means to aid in moving the stamps from the storage means to adispensing outlet. Power transmitting means may be provided in operativeengagment with the drive wheels and with cyclic power means foractivating the drive wheels alternatively. Sensing means may be providedwithin the housing for sensing the exhaustion of a supply of stamps inone of the stamp storage means, whereupon shifting means responsive tothe sensing means are activated to shift the power transmitting meansaway from the drive wheel associating with the stamp storage means fromwhich the supply of stamps is exhausted and into engagement with theother drive wheel.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Within the present century automaticcoin-operated vending machines have moved from the crude, troublesomemachines of the early nineteen hundreds, which now reside in museums, tothe extremely sophisticated apparatus used routinely by the averageAmerican citizen. The ubiquitous coin-operated vending machine is usedin modern times to dispense an almost limitless variety ofmerchandise-literally from soup to nuts.

The use of premiums of the type commonly referred to as trading stampswas initiated at approximately the same time the first crudecoin-operated vending machines were being developed, and all toofrequently discarded, and the growth of the trading stamp industry hasdeveloped apace with the growth of the coin-operated dispensingactivities of the merchandising segment of our population. While thereare detractors from the value of trading stamps, it is nonetheless anirrefutable fact that the dispensing of trading stamps has become anaccepted part of the American commercial scene. Undoubtedly this factcan be attributed mainly to the almost insatiable desire on the part ofthe typical American housewife to get something for free. No matter whatthe merchandise, it can be observed that the offer of trading stampsincreases the total sales volume.

In view of the parallel development of coin-operated vending machinesand trading stamp premium schemes, it is to some extent surprising thatno completely successful marriage between these two types of activitieshas, until the present time, been consummated. Conceptually at least,the advantages to be obtained from dispensing trading stampssimultaneously with the sale of an article from a coin-operated machineare apparent. The same Patented May 19, 1970 ICCA stimuli which tradingstamps give to sales over the counter should characterize thedispensation of trading stamps along with merchandise from acoin-operated machine.

Within the recent past apparatus for achieving just this happy resulthas been suggested. More particularly, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,292,834,apparatus is disclosed which has primary utility for dispensing tradingstamps in conjunction with a coin-operated vending machine. Theapparatus disclosed in this patent is undoubtedly useful for the purposefor which it was intended; it is, however, subject to limitations `whichthe present invention was designed to overcome. Specically, prior artapparatus necessitated either an excessively large storage drum for thetrading stamps or, alternatively, uneconomical supervision by anattendant. Until the present invention, a satisfactory stamp dispenserwhich could be used in conjunction with a coinoperated vending machineand which had a plurality of stamp storage drums which could bealternately and automatically actuated has remained an elusivedesideratum.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The present invention relates to a dispenser forribbon material, such as trading stamps, having therein at least twostorage drums for the stamps. Included within the invention are meansalternately and automatically shifting an otftake power supply to removestamps from each of the storage drums independently of the other storagedrum. Sensing means are provided to control the operation of theshifting means in response to the exhaustion of a supply of stamps inone of the storage drums.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Apparatus embodying one form of the inventionsummarized immediately above is disclosed in the following descriptionwhich is to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawingswherein like reference characters designate like parts in all views andwherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of one form of apparatus useful in practicing thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is an end View of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 as it wouldappear when viewing such apparatus in FIG. 1 from the right lwith aportion of the housing removed.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top view of the righthand portion of theapparatus shown in FIG. 1 taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 5 wherein certainelements are omitted to clearly indicate the structure of a pair ofoppositely acting solenoids and their associated hardware.

FIG.-4 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 showing therelationship between a pair of stamp storage means.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line S- S of FIG. 1 showingelements of power shifting means which forms a portion of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the apparatus disclosed in FIG. 5, as viewedfrom the righthand position of FIGS. 5, as it would appear with the sidepanel of the housing removed.

FIG. 7 is a schematic electrical diagram of the drive and controlportions of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE APPARATUS Turning now to the drawings, themajor components of the present invention may be seen to include withina housing 10 stamp storage means, indicated generally by the numeral 11,(FIGS. l and 4) from which a pair of parallel stamp ribbons 12 (FIGS. land 4) are drawn by a pair of drive wheels 13 (FIGS. 2 and 4) out adispensing slot 14 (FIG. l) formed in housing 10. Between the drivewheels 13 and the storage means 11, the stamp ribbons 12 are each passedover an idler wheel 15.

Power is transmitted alternatively to drive wheels 13 from cyclic powermeans, indicated generally by the numeral 16, (FIGS. 1 and 7) throughpower transmitting means, indicated generally by the numeral 17 (FIGS.1, 2, and 4). Power transmitting means 17 are designed to drive only oneof the drive wheels 13 at a time. In order to shift the drive engagementfrom one to the other of drive wheels 13, shifting means, indicatedgenerally by the numeral 18, (FIGS. 2, 3, 5, and 6) are provided inoperative engagement with a portion of power transmitting means 17.

Sensing means, indicated generally by the numeral 19, (FIGS. 1 and 7)are provided to control the operation of shifting means 18 in responseto the exhaustion Vof one of the stamp ribbons 12 from stamp storagemeans 11.

STAMP STORAGE MEANS Stamp storage means 11, which is best shown in FIGS.1 and 4, comprises a pair of storage drums 21 on each of which a stampribbon 12 is wound. Storage drums 21 are each rotatably secured upon astub shaft 22 and are held thereon [by suitable securing means, such asnuts 23. A support arm 24 projects inwardly from an end portion ofhousing and secures shaft 22 on which the storage drums are located.

DRIVE WHEEL ASSEMBLY The parallel stamp ribbons 12 emerging from storagedrums 21 are pulled from the storage drum into engagement with a flatperipheral surface 26 on drive wheels 13. Formed on each of the drivewheels is a series of radially extending projections 27 which engageapertures 28 in stamp ribbons 12 in a manner clearly shown in FIG. 4 tofurnish a positive drive to the stamp ribbons by drive wheels 13.

Support is given to drive wheels 13 by an axle 31 which is journaled toopposite sides of housing 10. Since it is necessary for drive wheels 13to move independently one from the other,-these wheels are not directlyconnected to axle 31', instead they are separated thereon by a spacersleeve 30 which is in sliding contact with each of the drive wheels. Inaddition the outer central portion of each of the drive wheels 26 isrigidly secured to a drive sleeve 29 which rotates freely around axle31.

POWER TRANSMI'ITING MEANS Rotation is provided to drive sleeves 29 bypower transmitting means 17 which includes a star gear 32 rigidlysecured on opposite ends of each drive sleeve 29'.

Asbest shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, star gears 32 cooperate with a pair ofpins 33 which project outwardly from a pair of pin wheels 34 to providea Geneva drive of standard design. A depression 36 (FIG. 1) is formed onthe outer periphery of each pin wheel 34 and is sized to receive thereina follower wheel 37 to prevent overriding of pin wheel 34. Followerwheel 37 is rotatably secured at one end of a bell crank assembly,indicated generally by the numeral 38, which is pivotally mounted withinhousing 10 on a pivot pin 39. Resilient means, such as tension spring41, is secured between a portion of housing 10 and the end of bell crankassembly 38 opposite follower wheel 37 to rotate the bell crank assemblyin a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, into constant engagementwith the periphery of pin wheel 34.

Each of the pin wheels 34 is free to rotate about a shaft 42 which isjournaled into opposite sides of housing 10'. Means are provided onshaft 42 immediately adjacent each of the pin wheels 34 for preventingoverriding of star gears 32. In the embodiment shown in the drawings,such means includes a projection 43 having a pair of opposed ends 44thereon formed into an arc to index with the arcuate portions of theperiphery of star gears 32. Since projections 43 move as a unit with pinwheels 34 and since the pin wheels are prevented from overriding by bellcrank assembly 38, star gears 32 are in turn prevented from overridingby the presence of projection 43 into the normal rotary path of the stargears.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 5, a pair of inwardly facing clutchassemblies 46 are carried on shaft 42 and each is rigidly secured on theinward side of one of the pin wheels 34. Clutch assemblies 46 eachcomprises an O shaped portion 47 from which project inwardly a pair ofhorizontally disposed teeth 48 to provide a locking groove.

A clutch engaging member, indicated generally by the numeral 49, isAlocated coaxially with shaft 42 between clutch assemblies 46. Clutchengaging member 49 includes a sleeve portion 51 from which projects oneither end thereof a pair of clutch engaging teeth S2 which are sized tot into the locking groove formed by teeth 48 of clutch assemblies 46.

Clutch engaging member 49 is sized shorter than the distance separatingclutch assemblies 46 along rotatable shaft 42. Thus, when the clutchengaging member is in operative contact with one of the clutches 46 itis out of driving engagement with the other clutch, as clearly shown inFIG. 5. Rotation is provided to clutch engaging `member 49 from shaft 42through a key 53 projecting into a slot 54 formed on the interiorsurface of clutch engaging member 49. As shown in FIG. 2, key 53 isrigidly secured to shaft 42 while slot 54 is oversized to allow clutchengaging member 49 to move parallel to the axis of rotatable shaft 42while at the same time being rotated thereby.

Gear means are provided for rotating shaft 42, and these gear meansinclude a relatively small driven gear wheel 58 which is rigidly securedto shaft 42. A relatively large gear 59 meshes with gear wheel 58 androtates as a unit with an axle shaft 61 on which it is secured. Axleshaft 61 is journaled on opposite sides of housing 10 and has securedthereto at a point removed from gear 59 a relatively small gear wheel 62having formed thereon a plurality of relatively coarse teeth 63. Teeth63 project radially from shaft 61 into the pathof a pin 64 carried byand extending from the plane of a drive plate 66 which forms a portionof the cyclic power means. By this arrangement, gear wheel 62 is movedthe distance between two adjacent teeth 63 with each revolution of driveplate 66. If desired, a plurality of pins `64 may be utilized with driveplate 66 to increase the rotation ratio between gear wheel 62 and driveplate 66.

POWER SHIFTING MEANS As was pointed out in the previous section, pinwheels 34 together with their associated drive wheels 13 are drivensingly and alternately due to the foreshortening of clutch engagingmember 49. In FIG. 5, for instance, clutch engaging member 49 is inoperative engagement with the pin wheel 34 which is on the lefthand sideof the drawing. Should the ribbon 12 which is being fed to the drivewheel 13 associated with the lefthand pin wheel 34 become exhausted, itwould then be necessary to shift the drive to the other pin wheel andthereafter remove stamps from the stampy drum still containing a supplyof stamps. As was pointed out previously, the alternate engagement anddisengagement of clutch assemblies 46 are achieved by the horizontalsliding motion of clutch engaging member 49.

In order to move clutch engaging member 49 axially along shaft 42, aslip ring 56 is slidingly secured in the central portion of sleeve 51 sothatslip ring 56 may remain rotatably stationary while clutch engagingmember 49 is being powered from shaft 42. Projecting from opposite sidesof slip ring 56 are a pair of dogs 57 through which axial motion istransmitted through slip ring 56 to clutch engaging member 49.

Power for adjusting the position of clutch engaging member 49 isprovided through the dogs 57 which cooperate with bifurcated portions 67of an actuating yoke member 68 (FIGS. 5 and 6). A fulcrum pin 69 isrigidly attached to, and projects through a portion of, yoke member 68in a direction normal to the plane of the bifurcations formed therein.At one end of fulcrum pin 69 is pivotally secured a pair of paralleldownwardly extending pivot arms 71, the lower portions of which arebifurcated as at 72. Fitted within bifurcations 72 is a pin 73 whichprojects outwardly from either side of a tie link 74 while a pair ofanchor plates 76 joined by an anchor pin 77 (FIG. 6) are rigidly securedto fulcrum pin 69 between yoke member 68 and pivot arms 71. One end of acoiled horseshoe spring 78 is secured to anchor pin 77 while theopposite end of the horseshoe spring Yis secured to a similar anchor pin79 carried between pivot arms 71 and normal to the plane of each.Horseshoe spring 78 is provided and attached in this manner in order togive a snap action to the motion of yoke member 68 upon the movement ofpivot arms 71 from one side of housing l0 toward the other.

Side to side motion is transmitted to pivot arms 7l through the pin 73which project horizontally from the tie link 74. As most clearly shownin FIG. 3. tie link 74 has a generally Z shaped configuration andfunctions to couple a pair of oppositely actuated armatures 81 whichform a portion of oppositely facing solenoids 80. As solenoids 80 arealternately actuated, tie link 74 is moved back and forth.

CYCLIC POWER MEANS The mechanism from which drive wheels 13 obtain theirpower is best disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 7 wherein it will be seen toinclude an electric motor 82. This motor is in an electric circuit whichincludes a power source 83 and a normally open impulse switch 84 whichmay be actuated by a portion of a coin-operated vending machine tomomentarily establish a circuit to motor 82. In parallel with impulseswitch 84 is provided a normally open motor stop switch 86 havingassociated therewith an actuating arm assembely 87. A follower 88 whichis secured to one end of actuating arm assembly 87 follows the peripheryof drive plate 66 and opens switch 86 when it engages a depression 89formed in the periphery of drive plate 66. The drive plate is secured toshaft 91 of motor 82.

A cycle of motor 82 is initiated by the momentary closing of switch 84whereupon motor SZ-begins to rotatev drive plate 66. As drive plate 66rotates, actuating arm assembly 87 is moved to close switch 86 therebymaintaining a power circuit to the motor after switch 84 has reopened.At such time as follower 88 engages depression 89, the actuating armassembly moves to once again open switch 86 and thereby deactivate themotor.

the utilization of means to sense the exhaustion of stamps from a firstsource of supply and signal a stamp dispensing apparatus to activate anadditional stamp dispensing ISource. In the present embodiment, suchsensing means includes a pair of reaction wheels 92 in engagement withstamp ribbons 12 each wheel being journaled at one end of a bell crank93. A pivot pin 94 is provided within housing to rotatably support bellcranks 93, while a cornpression spring 96 is utilized for each bellcrank to bias its associated reaction wheel into engagement with a stampribbon 12.

At the end of each of the bell cranks 93 is located a single throw makeand break switch 97 which is so4 positioned as to be actuated whenspring 96 moves bell crank 93 in a clockwise direction, as viewed inFIG. l, upon the exhaustion of its associated stamp ribbon 12.

As best seen in FIG. 7, each of the switches 97 is in the circuit of oneof the solenoids 80 so that when the stamp ribbon from one of the drums21 is exhausted and its associated bell crank 93 moves to close switch97. its associated solenoid is activated to shift tie link 74 therebydisengaging the pin wheel 34 associated with the exhausted stamp supplyand engaging the other pin wheel.

OPERATION In the operation of the present device let it be assumed thatthe clutch mechanism is in the position shown in FIG. 5 so that thedrive plate 66 at the bottom of FIG. 4 is being actuated from motor 82.Thus, upon closure of switch 84, as'by placing a coin in the dispensingapparatus, motor 82 is cycled and drive plate 66 moves pin 64 intoengagement with one of the teeth 63 which project from, and form a partof, small gear wheel 62. This results in rotation of gear wheel 62 withan equal rotation of shaft 6l to which it is journaled. Movement ofshaft 61 in turn causes gear 59 to rotate thus moving driven gear wheel58 which is keyed to shaft 42. Rotary motion from shaft 42 istransmitted through key 53 to clutch engaging member 49 and from thencethrough clutch assembly 46 into the lefthand pin wheel 34, as viewed inFIG. 5. Rotation of pin wheel 34 moves pin 33 whereby its associatedstar gear 32 experiences simultaneous movement. The lower star gear 32,as viewed in FIG. 4, thereupon rotates around axle 31 and carries withit its associated drive sleeve 29 to move lower drive wheel 13 and itsassociated stamp ribbon a limited distance.

At such time as the lower stamp ribbon 12 becomes exhausted, itsassociated reaction wheel 92 will move downwardly adjacent idleri wheel15 due to the action of spring 96 and pivot bell crank 93 to close andthen open its associated switch 97. As this switch closes it momentarilyactuates its associated solenoid thereby moving tie link 74 to theright, a viewed in FIG. 5. As tie link 74 begins to move to the rightthere is at first no corresponding motion of yoke member 68; however,further movement of the tie link, which brings it into an overcenterposition with regard to yoke member 68, results in a snap action of theyoke member toward the right (FIG. A5) due to the action of coiledhorseshoe spring 78 acting through anchor plates 76 and fulcrum pin 69.Motion of yoke member 68 to the right causes a corresponding motion ofclutch engaging member 49 due to the presence of dogs 57 which projectfrom slip ring 56. In the event that clutch engaging teeth 48 do notmesh precisely with the bifurcation formed in clutch assembly 46. noharm will be done to the mechanism due to the resilient connectionbetween pivot arm 71 and yoke member 68. Upon further rotation of theclutch engaging member 49 this same resilient force causes the clutchengaging member to operably connect with the clutch as soon as it isproperly indexed.

Following the switching described immediately above, depression ofswitch 84 will then actuate the righthand pin wheel in a manneridentical to the actuation described previously for the lefthand pinwheel. This in turn will cause rotation of the upper drive wheel, asviewed in FIG. 4.

From the above description it will be seen that the present inventionprovides means for conveniently and easily dispensing a plurality ofstamps 12 from a first source and upon exhaustion of that source forautomatically switching to an alternate source so as to provide anuninterrupted ow of stamps to the customer.

It should be understood that the embodiments described herein arepresented by way of example only and that many changes and modificationsthereto can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A stamp dispenser which comprises:

(a) a housing;

(b) a plurality of stamp storage means carried by said housing;

(c) a plurality of drive wheels each operatively associated with one ofsaid stamp storage means to receive a ribbon of stamps therefrom;

(d) power means in said housing and selectively connectable to one ofsaid drive wheels;

(e) means for sensing the exhaustion of stamps in one of said stampstorage means;

(f) means connected to said power transmitting means and responsive tosaid sensing means for shifting said power means out of engagement withthe drive wheel paired with a stamp storage means from which the supplyof stamps is exhausted and into engagement with another of said drivewheels in response to a signal from said sensing means, said shiftingmeans comprising:

(a) a pair of opposed solenoids carried by said housing and connected tosaid sensing means;

(b) a tie link rigidly secured to the armature of each of said solenoidswhereby said armatures and said tie link are moved as a unit by thealternate actuation of said solenoids;

(c) a fulcrum pin;

(d) a pivot arm rotatably secured at one end thereof to said fulcrumpin, the opposite end of said pivot arm being in operative engagementwith said tie link;

(e) an actuating yoke member pivotally secured to said fulcrum pin andextending therefrom in a direction generally away from said pivot arm;

(f) a slip ring slidably secured on a portion of said power means and inoperative engagement with said actuating yoke member; and

(g) resilient means secured between said pivot arm and said actuatingyoke member for moving said yoke member in response to movement of saidpivot arm by said solenoids.

2. A stamp dispenser which comprises:

(a) a housing;

(b) a plurality of stamp storage means carried by said housing;

(c) a plurality of drive wheels, each operatively associated with one ofsaid stamp storage means to receive a ribbon of stamps therefrom;

(d) power means in said housing and selectively connectable to one ofsaid drive wheels;

(e) a plurality of reaction wheels, each of said reaction wheels beingpositioned within said housing to engage a continuous ribbon of stampsemerging from one of said stamp storage means;

(f) a bell crank assembly pivotally secured within said housing, saidreaction wheels being rotatably mounted in one end of said bell crankassembly;

(g) a single throw make and break switch carried by said housing and inoperative engagement with a portion of said bell crank assembly oppositesaid reaction wheels;

(h) resilient means mounted between said housing and said bell crankassembly for urging said reaction wheels in a direction toward thecontinuous ribbon of stamps;

(i) electric circuitry including said make and break switch andconnected to said shifting means for pulsing said shifting means uponactuation of said make and break switch; and

(j) means connected to sa-id power means and responsive to closure ofsaid single throw make and break switch for shifting said powertransmitting means out of engagement with the drive wheel paired with astamp storage means from which the supply of stamps is exhausted andinto engagement with another of said drive wheels in response to asignal from said sensing means.

3. A stamp dispenser which comprises:

(a) a housing;

(b) a plurality of stamp storage means carried by said housing;

(c) a plurality of drive wheels, each of said drive wheels being pairedwith one of said stamp storage means to receive a ribbon of stampstherefrom;

(d) an electric motor having a shaft extending from one end thereof;

(e) a drive plate rigidly secured to said shaft, said drive plate havingformed therein a depression along the periphery thereof;

(f) a normally open motor stop switch;

(g) an actuating arm assembly operatively secured to said normally openmotor stop switch, a portion of said actuating arm assembly beingpositioned to engage the periphery of said drive plate and be receivedWithin said depression;

(h) a normally open impulse switch;

(i) a source of electric power;

(j) a first electric circuit including said normally open impulse switchand said electric motor;

(k) a second electric circuit including said power supply, said normallyopen motor stop switch, and said electric motor;

(l) a pin projecting from said drive plate;

(m) power transmitting means carried by said housing and drivinglycontacted by said projecting pin for transmitting power from said driveplate selectively and individually to each of said drive wheels;

(n) means for sensing the exhaustion of stamps in one of said stampstorage means; and

(o) means connected to said power transmitting means and responsive tosaid sensing means for shifting said power transmitting means out ofengagement with .the drive Wheel paired with a stamp storage means fromwhich the supply of stamps is exhausted and into engagement with anotherof said drive wheels in response to a signal from said sensing means 4.A stamp dispenser which comprises:

(a) a housing;

(b) a pair of stamp storage means carried by said hous- (c) a pair ofdrive wheels, each of said drive wheels being paired on said housingwith one of said stamp storage means to receive a ribbon of stampstherefrom;

(d) cyclic power means associated with said housing;

(e) a star wheel drivingly secured to each of said drive wheels;

(f) a pin wheel journaled within said housing in driving engagement witheach star wheel;

(g) a clutch assembly secured to each pin wheel;

(h) a rotatable shaft within said housing;

(i) a clutch engaging member carried by said rotatable shaft and axiallyslidable thereon alternately into and out of engagement with each ofsaid clutches;

(j) gear means in operable engagement with said cyclic power means andsaid rotatable shaft for transmitting power thereto from said cyclicpower means;

(k) means for sensing the exhaustion of stamps and one of such stampsstorage means; and

(l) means connected to said clutch engaging member and responsive tosaid sensing means for shifting said clutch engaging member alternatelyinto and out of engagement with each of said clutches in response to asignal from said sensing means,

5. The apparatus dened in claim 4 wherein said pin wheel has formed inthe periphery thereof a depression, and further characterized to includea bell crank assembly pivotally secured within said housing adjacentsaid pin wheel, a follower wheel mounted upon one end of said bell crankassembly in engagement with the periphery of said pin wheel andresilient means secured between the end of the housing and the end ofsaid bell crank assembly opposite said follower wheel for pivoting saidbell crank assembly to urge said follower wheel into engagement with theperiphery of said pin wheel.

6. The apparatus defined in claim- 4 wherein said shifting meanscomprises:

said fulcrum pin and extending therefrom in a direction generally awayfrom said pivot arm;

.(f) a slip ring slidably secured on said clutchengaging member and inoperative engagement with said actuating yoke member; and

(g) resilient means secured between said` pivot arm and said actuatingyoke member for moving said yoke member in response to movement of saidpivot arm by said solenoids.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 6 wherein said sensing meanscomprises:

(a) a pair of reaction Wheels, each of said reaction wheels beingpositioned within said housing to engage a continuous ribbon of sampsemerging from one of said stamp storage means; I

(b) a bell crank assembly pivotally secured within said housing, saidreaction wheels being rotatably mounted in one end of said bell crankassembly;

(c) a single throw make and break switch carried by said housing and inoperative engagement with a portion of said bell crank assembly oppositesaid reaction wheel;

(d) resilient means mounted between said housing and said bell crankassembly for urging said reaction wheel in a direction toward thecontinuous ribbon of stamps; and

.(e) electric circuitry including said make and break switch and one ofsaid solenoids for Ipulsing said solenoid upon actuation of said makeand break switch.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said cyclic power meanscomprises:

(a) an electric motor having a shaft extending from one end thereof;

(b) a drive plate rigidly secured to said shaft, said drive plate havingformd therein a depression along the periphery thereof;

(c) la normally open motor stop switch;

(d) an actuating arm assembly operatively secured to said normally openmotor stop switch, a portion of said actuating arm assembly beingpositiond to engage the periphery of said drive plate and be receivedwithin said depression;

(e) a normally open impulse switch;

(f) a source of electric power;

(g) a tirst electric circuit including said normally open impulse switchand said electric motor;

(h) a second electric circuit including said power supply, said normallyopen motor stop switch, and said electric motor; and

(i) a pin projecting from said drive plate into the path of a portion ofsaid gear means.

9. The lapparatus defined in claim 4 wherein said sensing meanscomprises:

.(a) a pair of reaction wheels, each of said reaction wheels beingpositioned within said housing to engage a continuous ribbon of stampsemerging from one of said stamp storage means;

(b) a bell crank assembly pivotally secured within said housing, saidreaction wheels being rotatably mounted in one end of said bell crankassembly;

(c) a single throw make and break switch carried by said housing and inoperative engagement with ya portion of said bell crank assemblyopposite said reaction Wheel;

(d) resilient 'means mounted between said housing and said bell crankassembly for urging said reaction wheel in a direction toward thecontinuous ribbon of stamps; `and (e) electric circuitry including saidmake and break switch and a portion of said power shifting means foractuating said power shifting means upon actuation of said make andbreak switch.

10. The apparatus defined in claim 6 wherein said cyclic power meanscomprises:

(a) an electric motor having a shaft extending from one end thereof;

.(b) a drive plate rigidly secured kto said shaft, said drive platehaving formed therein a depression along the periphery thereof;

(c) a normally open motor stop switch;

(d) an actuating armassembly operatively secured to said normally openmotor stop switch, a portion of said actuating arm assembly beingpositioned to engage the periphery of said drive plate and be receivedwithin said depression;

(e) a normally open impulse switch;

(f a source of electric power;

(g) a lirst electric circuit including said normally open impulse switchand said electric motor;

,(h) a second electric circuit including said power supply, saidnormally open motor stop switch, and said electric motor; and

(i) a pin projecting from said drive plate into the path of a portion ofsaid gear means.

11. A stamp dispenser which comprises:

(a) ahousing;

(b) a plurality of stamp storage means carried by said housing;

(c) a plurality of drivewheels, each operatively associated with one ofsaid stamp storage means for withdrawing a ribbon of stamps therefrom;

(d) ya motor within said housing;

(e) means for automatically driving said motor through a predeterminedextent of rotation;

(f) means for transmitting power from said motor to either one of saiddrive wheels during the period said motor is automatically driventhrough said predetermined extent of rotation;

(g) meansfor individually sensing the depletion of said stamps from eachone of said storage means; and

(h) means responsive to said sensing means for disconnecting said powertransmitting means from a lirst drive wheel operatively associated witha stamp storage means from which stamps are depleted, and connectingsaid power transmitting means to a second drive wheel operativelyassociated with a stamp storage means upon which stamps are stored.

12. A stamp dispenser which comprises:

(a) ahousing;

(b) a pair of stamp storage means carried by said housing;

(c) a pair of drive wheels, each of said drive wheels being paired onsaid housing with one of said Stamp storage means to receive a ribbon ofstamps therefrom;

(d) cyclic power means associated with said housing;

(e) means carried by said housing for transmitting power from saidcyclic power means to each of said drive wheels;

(f) means for sensing the exhaustion of stamps in one of said stampstorage means;

(g) solenoid means connected to said sensing means and responsive tosaid sensing means by shifting when said sensing means senses theexhaustion of stamps in one of said stamps storage means;

(h) link means connected to lsaid solenoid means for References Citedg'nent in response to shifting of said solenoid UNITED STATES PATENTS(i) clutcll means for alternately shifting said power 2,738,934 3/1956Dobkin 242--553 transmitting means into engagement with one of said 53,007,650 11/1961 Burton 242--55-3 drive wheels, and concurrently out ofengagement 3,148,842 9/1964 AXSOD 242-*58 X with the other of said drivewheels; and

(j) means interconnecting said link means with said RICHARD A'SCHACHERPrlmary Exammef clutch means for alternately shifting said clutch Us C1XR means when said link means moves in response to lo said solenoidmeans. 242- 55'3 58

